Apparatus and method of rapid production and harvesting of ice



May 27, 1952 e. L. POWNALL 8,

APPARATUS AND METHUD 0F RAPID PRODUCTION Original Filed July s, 1948 AND HARVESTING 0F ICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvron. r 30 I; GEORGE L. POWNALL May 27, 1952 G. L. POWNALL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF RAPID PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING OF 1cm 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 3, 1948 I&\\\

INVEN TOR. By GEORGE L. POWNALL y 27, 1952 e. L. POWNALL 2,5985430 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF RAPID PRODUCTION Original Filed July 5, 1948 AND HARVESTING OF ICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvrox. GEORGE LPOWNALL BY a q Patented May 27, 1952 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF RAPID PRO- DUCTION AND HARVESTING F ICE George L. Pownall, London, Ohio Original application July 3, 1948, Serial No. 36,973. Divided and this application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,078

2 Claims.

This is a divisional application of my applica tion Serial No. 36,973, filed July 3, 1948.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatic rapid production and harvesting of ice.

An object of the invention is to rapidly produce ice by mechanical refrigeration, in the form of elongate rods or sticks of clear ice to be sheared 01f progressively by automatic means, for producing ice particles in selected sizes or forms, as may be desired; that is, the ice may be sheared from the sticks as uniformly shaped masses, or as chips not uniformly shaped.

Another object of the invention is to provide an unique method of accomplishing the foregoing objective, and also appropriate apparatus therefore which is simple, compact, and economical in its operation, with maintenance costs reduced to a practical minimum.

Another object is to provide in an apparatus of the character ref-erred to, effective and reliable means to produce clear transparent ice in stick or rod form, and to effect release of the sticks or rods for subsequent shearing thereof into particles of a desired character, with a substantial saving of power in cyclic operation of the apparatus.

Another and broader objective is to provide an improved method and means of cooling water or other liquid for any purpose.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1' is a perspective view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, as viewed from the rear of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the evaporator, the distributing header being removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing ice growth on the evaporator.

Fig. 5 is a broken-away section at thebase of the evaporator, showing ice picks 2!, crosshead l9, guides 25), and cutter head 22.

Fig. 6 is a broken-away elevational view of the ice stick limiting bar it and its guiding and ad justing means.

Fig. '7 is a fragmental enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line '!---'1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental cross-section of a modi fied form of volatile refrigerant distributor, somewhat similar to that of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a layout of the refrigerant piping employed for full automatic operation of the machine, using a primary direct refrigerant which is volatile in character.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing the water distributing header illustrated at IBI2 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a piping layout showing the arrangement of elements employed for full automatic operation of the machine using brine as the refrigerant, and as the thawing agent.

Fig. 12 is an electric wiring diagram for the system of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is an electric wiring diagram for the system of Fig. 11.

Briefly described, the apparatus comprises an ice making machine including an evaporator and a freezing compartment arranged vertically to produce long sticks or rods of ice, which in crosssection may be substantially rectangular, cylindrical, or of other desired contour. The ice sticks or rods, after formation during a freezing period, are to be subjected to a brief thawing and releasing thereof from the walls of the shell or freezing compartment, whereby under the force of gravity or otherwise, the sticks or rods advance endwise onto a limit bar or stop, which supports them momentarily as a cutter or shearing means goes into operation for severing from the lower ends of the sticks or rods, a predetermined length of the latter. The limit bar or stop can be adjusted, either manually or by automatic means, to subject to the cutter or shear a substantial portion of the 1ength of the ice sticks, or alternatively, a lesser portion thereof, depending upon the desire of the operator to produce ice cubes of the type generally used in cooling beverages, or ice chips such as might be desired for use in an ice cream freezer, for example.

The machine is cyclic in its operation to alternately freeze, and thaw slightly, the liquid undergoing treatment in the U-shaped ice molds associated with the evaporator, in accordance with the demands of a suitable timing apparatus. Certain other desirable features are incorporated in the machine and in the'system as a whole, as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter.

It. is to be noted that the complete ice making machine with most of its various inter-related parts are shown in the perspective Fig. l, and primarily consists of a vertical hollow evaporator shell I resting on suitable base structure comprising I beams 2, vertical angle irons 3, and channel irons i spaced apart and strengthened by channel irons 5.

A base plate at, secured to channel irons 5, furnishes a floor for water tank ii and water circulating pump 7. At one end of water tank 6 is a float controlled water inlet (not shown) for maintaining a constant height of water within the tank. The fresh water come from any source available.

Water pump l takes water through suction line 8 from the water tank and discharges it through line 9 into a water distributing header Ii) located on top of the apparatus. The Water distributing header H) has a narrow slit opening 12, (Figure 4) along one face, and spaced plate-like aprons II, which project outwardly from :the header Ito coincide'siibs'tantially with the-somewhat similar U form of the evaporator shell (Figs. 2 and 4). As shown, the three sides of the projecting apron are slightly spaced from the faces -5|, thereby providing means to distribute water films'against the faces 5! of the refrigerated surface, and to permit its flow downward by gravity. Such water as is not frozen into a growingice rod drops into the aforesaid water tank 6.

Adjacent to, and abutting the evaporator shell U shape face, is a hollow space l3, one face 52 of which limits the outward growth of the ice rod. This hollow spacemay be constructed as an integral part of the evaporator :structure or may be constructed as fazseparate :apparatus :and assembled with :the evaporator.

.Restin'gbn top :of "the evaporator is an insulating member 14 of wood or other suitable material, of identical plan view shape as the evaporator. An alternate hollow'metal member of this form is also indicated at 54%] in Fig. 4 and WhOSBipUIPOSB will be described hereinafter.

Directly under the multiple ice rod forming spaces is=a 'cross bar i6 bearing on the inner webs of the I beams .2 and raisable by means :of setscrews 17, one at each-end of the bar,'to adjust the .len'gth'of ice piece or 'icube to becut off of :the elongated ice rod. Stationary pins :18 one at each-endof the bar provide for proper alignment-of the bar which is slidable up and down on the pins. :I'he pinsare tightly fitted :into the webs of the I beams.

Means ifor cutting on the elongated ice rods into cubes :are provideddirectly under the evapo- :Rroperlyspaced.iceplcks 2| mounted in cutter head 22 are bolted to 'crosshead 19.

The crosshead and cutter bar assembly is 'actuated'instraight line horizontal movement 'by meansof cam 23 mounted on shaft 24 driven through .-a speed reducing gear 25 by motor 25 mounted on thezstructural framework. ihe forward movement is transmitted bymeans ofcam yoke 29 which .is pivotally connected to crosshead 19.

Directly under the cutting mechanism is a wire mesh screen 21 to catch and direct away from the machine the-cut ice cubes or chips to :be collected in bags or baskets, or carried away by means of a conveyor, not shown. A light gauge metal splash guard 28 directs all dropping water into tank 6.

Thus it can be .seen that water is'circulated by the water pump from the water tank to the distributing header ontop of the-machine where it flows outward onto an apron which is slightly spaced from the wooden insulating member thereby causing a film to run downwardly on the channel-forming faces 5! of the evaporator to freeze into ice. This incremental growth of ice maybe allowed to continue until spaces are a solid mass of clear elongated ice rods extending the full depth-of the vertical evaporator, and in width from the face of the evaporator shell to the stop plate I56 forming one wall of the hollow partition. The-action of the flowing water causes clear ice toform in the well known :manner.

.If the tubular spaces [5 are permitted .to Tfill onithe inner side of the hollow partition; therefore when the ice is being thawed loose "from the evaporator shell :during the icea-i'releasing operation which will be further described hereinafter, the running water serves to act as a lthawing agent in releasing the ice rods from the hollow partition.

.It should Lloe lunderstood that the ice need not completely fill the spaces l5 before being released, as" will be pointed out later.

The wooden insulating member on the top of the evaporator :ser-ves as a means to limit or :stop any upw-ardi'growth of ice above the evaporator. An alternate member would be a hollow metalme'mber 540 of the same plan View shape as the evaporator, through which warm water could be circulated to -release -any ipart or -ice .rod .that

.forthoroughlydraining the interior of .the member .of water might: also be provided .toavoid any possibility of any .wateimfreezing therein when the machine is .initsireezing operation.

The-machinenescribed herein constitutes the evaporator, water circulating system, cutting mechanism, and means and method of refrigeration and ice making in a newfform which can be adapted into an existing plant wherein other normal appurtenances of a refrigeration .plant are already available, .such as compressors, motors, condensers, .brine tanks etc. Or the application and .use ot this equipment and system may also be made up .as ea completefpackaged self-contained automatic ice making plant, and is -for use with either a primary refrigerant or a secondary refrigerant.

LNoveLmeans for .the fiowan'd efiicient distribution of the volatilelrefrigerantIis provided when the evaporator is for use with a primary refrigerant.

In'Fig. '7 it'will be noted that the volatile refrigerant such as dichlorodifiuoromethane or ammonia enters as a liquid through liquid line 30, through'bus'hing 3i intoa distributingheader pipe 32,.said header being closed at oneend and also provided. with small spaced orifices 33 of approximately diameter. These orifices are spaced so as to spray the liquid refrigerant against the inner faces of the evaporator shell. That portion of the liquid which immediately flashes into gas is readily removed, leaving the remaining liquid (approximately .to course downward along theinner faces "of the evaporator shell thereby wetting thatsurface for efficient heat transfer. As the liquid passes downward it also takes up heat from the evaporator wall and flashes into gas with the result that by the time the liqu'id has reached the bottom practically all of it'hasflashed into gas and has performed its 'e'iiicient service in taking up heat given off by thewate'r being "frozen'into ice on the outer face of the evaporator wall.

This novel means of refrigerant distribution is far more efficient 'than'the old method of socalled dry expansion, and is comparative in results with the so-called flooded operation, with thedistinct advantage that alesser volume of primary refrigerant'is required than with the flooded operation. Refrigerantlliquidspray is indicated as 34 and the ice formation .as '35 in Fig. 7.

An evaporator shell 36,, provided for freezing elongated ice rods on two opposed major'walls of the shell is shown in Fig. 8, and .can be used in any number as inner sections in connection ing clear ice cubes automatically, and such a refrigerant piping lay-out to accomplish these results is shown in Fig. 9. An electric wiring diaram for this purpose is shown in Fig. 12, as representative.

The core of the automatic operation is through timers TI and T2 either of which can be manipulated to regulate a freezing operation and a succeeding alternate thawing (and cube cutting) operation in continuous cycles by means of open- A ing and closing solenoid controlled valves, and starting and stopping the motor that operates the cutting means. The compressor A and water pump 1 are in continuous operation.

In addition to the compressor A, other components of the usual refrigeration system ar indicated as, condenser B, receiver 0, and evaporating coils D in either an ice storage compartment or ice storage room. In addition, when dichlorodifiuoromet-hane is used as a primary re frigerant a heat exchanger or accumulator E is also used in the suction gas line to boil off into gas any liquid refrigerant returning through the suction line en route from the evaporator to the compressor.

To place the machine in automatic operation for producing cubes of ice, a main line switch 54 (Fig. 12) is used to close the electrical circuit, thereby starting the compressor A and also water pump 1. The central push-button of timer Tl should then be depressed to place the system under the control of that timer. The timed switch 65 would then energize and open solenoid valves Si, S2, and S3, thereby causing flow of the liquid refrigerant from the receiver C through the heat exchanger E, through a thermostatic expansion valve El, into the liquid header 32 (see Fig. 9) inside the top of the evaporator shell I, the resulting evaporated refrigerant gas then passes from the evaporator shell at the bottom through the heat exchanger and back to the compressor A, where it is compressed and discharged through open solenoid valve S3 into the condenser; after liquifying the liquid then passes into the receiver C, its starting point. All other solenoid valves in the system remain closed during this freezing operation. The flow of the liquid refrigerant through the thermostatic expansion valve El is controlled in amount according to needs as registered in superheat by a bulb B! located on the suction line and connected to the thermo valve E-l by means of a capillary tube CI. The operation of this type of valve is well understood by those well versed in the trade.

- Obviously, the time required to freeze the multiple ice rods will be governed by the temperature maintained in the evaporator shell. For purpose of description herein we may assume that it is 4.5 minutes, therefore the time switch Tl will be set accordingly for the freezing cycle; however it must be understood that any time setting can be made adjustable.

When the time switch reaches the end of this setting it then de-energizes the above indicated solenoid valves causing their respective closure,

thereby stopping that circuit'of the refrigerant for the freezing operation. At the same time it will energize and open solenoid valve S4 permitting hot gas to pass through the discharge line as indicated by into the evaporator shell thereby warming the surface of same to release the ice rods therefrom. In the meantime water from the water pump will be overflowing the ice rod into the adjacent hollow partition space, thereby running down one face thereof to release the ice rod fromthat surface.

At the same time, solenoid valve S5 is opened thereby permitting liquid to pass through thermostatic expansion valve E2 into a secondary coil D located in the ice storage cabinet, thereby providing two services, i. e., refrigerating the ice storage, and also furnishing necessary refrigerant for compression'as hot gas to warm up the' evaporator wall to release the ice rods. Also at that same time the motor 26 operating the cutting mechanism will be started. Thermostatic expansion valve E2 likewise has a bulb B2 located on the suction line connected through capillary tube C2 to control its action.

When the ice rods are thawed loose from the evaporator and hollow partition, they drop down onto 'bar I 6, which has been adjusted in height to give the proper length of cube desired. The cutting mechanism which has also been put in operation by the time switch cuts them off into cubes, and lip l2! pushes the resulting cubes oil of the bar It onto the wire mesh screen 21.

The thawing-releasing, and cutting operation does not consume much time, perhaps 15 minutes, therefore the time switch setting will be accordingly; however as previously stated the setting on either operation is adjustable. Consequently when this latter operation is completed the time switch will again alter the circuits and start another freezing operation.

During the thawing-releasing cycle of operation the evaporator shell I, having been temporarily serving as a condenser, may have a small amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in its base which may run out into the suction line when another cycle is started by the initiation of the freezing operation. Accumulated liquid refrigerant may be transferred to the heat exchanger or accumulator E upon the initiation of the cycle in order to prevent possible damage to the compressor that might be caused by excessive liquid return. During the initial stages of the new freezing cycle element E containing the liquid refrigerant temporarily serves as a flooded type evaporator until such time as all of the liquid refrigerant contained in the shell has r been boiled off into gas by the operation of the compressor thereby disposing of any small amounts of liquid refrigerant which originally accumulate in the evaporator during the thawingreleasing cycle. 7

Ordinary refrigerant hand stop valves 3'! are located throughout the system for use when repairs are being made. Likewise a hot gas line as indicated by 53 and with ordinary hand stop valves are included in the refrigerant piping layout for defrosting the secondary coils D manually when necessary. Refrigerant fittings 38 with mesh screens therein are also included in the lay-out to protect the seats of the various automatic valves from scale etc.

Fig.- 11 shows the refrigerant piping lay-out when the machine is for automatic operation with brine as the refrigerant.

Cold brine is taken from brine tank 39 by means-oi sbrine :pump 40 through; suction :line-M anddischargediinto the'evaporatorsshell lat the bottom. Circulating through the evaporator :wherei-it picks upthe heatzgiven ofi hythe water being'frozen on theouterzfa'ce of the evaporator wall-it then flows-through line 42 to be dumped back into the main-cold brine tank .39, .ior recooling byother-means not shown. Brine-pump 40 .isin =.continuous:operation, .both during the freezingand thawing operation.

On the above cold brine suction-line-M is solenoid controlled valve S6, .and on discharge line 42 .is another solenoid controlled valve 51.

Ihisbrine flow circuitismaintained throughout the freezing operation according to the time setting of thetime switch Tl. At theend oi the freezing operation the time switch de-energizes solenoidvalves S5, and Sl-causing their closure, and at thesame time energizes solenoid control valves :58 and S9 :causing them to open, and also .starts the 'cutting mechanism motor (see Fig.;-1-3).

The character 43 indicates-a fresh-warm water tank in which fresh water from any source available is maintained at constantheight bymeans of/a-float valve (not shown). The water in this tank will flow directly to water tank 6 located under the machinelas needed to maintain a constant height in tank v6. Within water tank 43 islocated brine coils which in connection with lines A and 46, brine pump 40, and evaporator I form a closed circuithereinafter known as the warm brine circuit.

When solenoid valve s8 and S9 .are opened,

the brine pump then receives its brine through suctionline connected with coils M, and then discharges the brine into the evaporator. After leaving the evaporator the .brine flows through line .46 which isalso connected to coils M.

This circuit causes the brine to :pick up heat from the water in tank 43, warming itself sufficiently to thaw and release the ice rods from the outer .face of evaporator shell I.

This circuit is also doing the double duty of cooling relatively warm water in tank 43 which willbe used foricemaking after itspassageinto tank fi. The operation of cutting the cubes-and the alternate freezing. and releasing operations in cycles are .the same as described previously. The only structural difference .in the evaporator of Eigll is that when a .brinesystem is used, there is noheader such as '32 within the evaporator.

With .further reference to the stop bar it of Fig. 2, it will be .understoodthat .by adjusting thebarupon itsguide means 18 to difierent elevations, the amount-of ice to hestruckfrom the are lower ends of the ice sticks by the picks orcutters .2l, .may .be varied. Manual means .in the form of adjusting screws H is illustratednpon the drawings for this purpose, .along with suitable power means such as solenoids 10 or other motor devicesadapted to automatically elevate the .bar under certain operating conditions to bezexplained.

In'the wiring diagrams-oiFigs. .12 and 13,:the line .wires are indicated at and v.Gl and the load wires 52 and .63 areseen to supply current to the various electrical elements in .a .most .conventional manner scarcely necessary .to explain. The timed switch '64 in each instance is adapted to close and open the circuits .fi.6 .andt l-68, in alternation, through selected time intervals established by one or the other of the timers TI and T2. The timers .mayinclude central pushbuttons as :shown, to be manuallyv depressed :by

38 the operator of the machine, depending upon whether the machine is to produce cube ice .or chipped ice. In the previous explanation, the production of cubeice was assumed, and .such production :was'initiated by depressing the pushbutton-of timer Tl, to place the system-under the controlof that timer.

To produce chipped ice, the operator need only depress'the push-button of timer .T2,..so-.as'to .place the switch 64 under the control of timer T2, which has a different. settingthan timer T1. In other words, timer T2 .serves tooperate the switch 64 at shorter intervals of time than timer Tl. :As'a resultof the shorter time period mentioned, the ice machine will operate toproduceincompete or partially formed .icerods or.sticks within the molds .15, and these partially formed rods .orsticks will bereleasedontothe stop bar 16in the form of .ice channels ofgenerahu -.shape, which are very easily disintegrated by the picks-2|.

It is desirable, when producing chipped .ice, to maintain the stop bar at a .higherelevation than is illustrated by Fig. 2, and this may .be accomplished automatically by energizing the. solenoid coils H3 at opposite ends-of the stop. bar, for lifting the bar through theagency of the armatures or cores H which are attached .to the bar by means of brackets 12. .As the wiring "diagrams ofFigs. .12 and 131indicate, the solenoids ill-are under the controiofthe timer'TZ caly so that they are energized only in the course of chip iceproduction. When the machine isoperated under the control of itimer Tl, no energization of solenoids i0 is possible, and therefore the stop bar is will remain in the lowere'dlposition for use producing cube. ice.

It willbe understood from the foregoing, that the machine can be operated under the control of timer TI to produce cube ice, or alternatively, it can be operated-under the control of timer T2 to produce chippedlice. .Timer Tl accordinglywill be set to keep the machine in opera tion for a sufiicient period .oftime to ensure the formation of solid ice sticks within the molds before initiating the thawing and releasing period. On the other hand, timer T2 will be set to provide a more rapid cycle of freezing and thawing, which is more economical and expeditious to the production of chipped'ice.

In view of the foregoing explanation, it will be apparent that the same icemachine can 'be operatedto produce ice cubes, or chipped ice, at the will of the operator. .Theselection is made simply by depressing the central push-button 14 or 15 of the proper timer.

What is claimed:

1. The method of producing ice particles, whichcomprises flowing a film of water substantially-continuously over the inside surfaces'of a majority of the walls of an "open-ended multisided upright tubular heat exchange member, subjecting to freezing temperature those walls over which the water flows, leaving at least-one remaining wall unrefrigerated, thereby to cause growth of ice from the refrigerated walls toward the unrefrigerated wall to form a solid stick of ice inside the heat exchangemember, stopping the freezing action after the .memher fills with ice and the flowing water --has.overfiowed the unrefrigerated wall exteriorly of the member, then warming the previously refrigerated walls to effect release of the ice contained within the member, whereby the .ice .in stick form maydrop by gravity from the lower open end of said member.

2. The method of producing ice particles. which comprises flowing a film of water substantially continuously over the inside surfaces of a majority of the walls of an open-ended multi-sided upright tubular heat exchange member, subjecting to freezing temperature those walls over which the water flows, leaving at least one remaining wall unrefrigerated, thereby to cause growth of ice from the refrigerated walls toward the unrefrigerated wall to form a solid stick of ice inside the heat exchange member, stopping the freezing action after the member fills with ice and the flowing water has overflowed the unrefrigerated wall exteriorly of the member, then warming the previously refrigerated walls to efiect release of the ice con- 10 I tained within the member, whereby the ice 1 stick form may drop by gravity from the lower open end of said member, and simultaneously cutting portions from the gravitating ice stick to produce particles in the form of prisms.

GEQRGE L. POWNALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,267,795 Ophuls May 28, 1918 2,200,424 Kubaugh May 14, 1940 2,288,003 Kleucker June 30, 1942 2,397,347 Gruner Mar. 26, 1946 

